WASHINGTON, Nov 15 (AFP) - Colin Powell, who has announced his resignation as secretary of state, said Monday he would work hard in the post "until the very end" when his successor is confirmed by the Senate.
Powell, who submitted his letter to President George W. Bush on Friday, sought to play down his departure, telling a news conference that they had spoken about for weeks and months and "it had always been my intention to serve one term."
The White House declined to say whom Bush was considering as a replacement but said Powell would stay on until his successor was in place. Powell has several trips ahead, including an APEC conference in Chile and a conference on Iraq in Egypt next week.
"I expect to act fully as secretary of state until I do leave," Powell said. "I will be working hard until the very, very end."
Powell listed as priorities the war on terror launched after the September 1,, 2001 attacks, consolidating the new democracy in Afghanistan and stabilizing Iraq after the US-led invasion to oust Saddam Hussein last year.
"We had some difficulties with some nations in Europe last year over Iraq, and we are getting rid of those differences and coming together again, as evidenced by the fact NATO is now undertaking a mission in support of the Iraqi people," he said.
He also mentioned efforts to restart the Middle East peace process after the death of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, to wean North Korea and Iran off their nuclear weapons programs, open up trade, boost development funding and combat AIDS.
The departure of Powell will deprive the administration of probably its most respected member abroad at a time when Bush is trying to mend fences with allies bruised by the Iraq war and revive the Middle East peace process.
Powell denied his announced resignation would affect his ability to pursue the agenda in the coming weeks, saying he was still secretary of state operating with Bush's authority.
"And so I think that will be recognized by the people that I deal with around the world, and I have good relations with most of the leaders in the nations that I will be working with and visiting," he said.
"So I think I'll be able to be quite effective for the remaining period of my term."
Asked what he would do when he leave the State Department, the former top general said simply, "I don't know."
11/15/2004 18:35 GMT - AFP